Maid's death: Case after three days, SHO transferred

Three days after an 18-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide at the house of the principal of private education college in Lehragaga in Sangrur, the police have registered a case for abetment to suicide against the head, Tapan Kumar Sahu, and his wife Sheikha Pradhan.

Three days after an 18-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide at the house of the principal of private education college in Lehragaga in Sangrur, the police have registered a case for abetment to suicide against the head, Tapan Kumar Sahu, and his wife Sheikha Pradhan.

The victim, Bobbi, was a maid at the principal's house and ended her life by strangulating, after alleged harassment by the family.

The institute, Shivam college of Education, is owned by a close associate of former chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Lehragaga MLA.

In a related development, SHO Tejinder Singh has been transferred to the police lines for his reported negligence in the case. However, the department has officially cited the increased crime during his tenure here as the official reason.

Sources said that in this case, the police failed to register a case immediately, even as ample evidence was available against the accused. The reason cited was that it wanted to record the statement of the victim, who is from Orissa.

"A case was not registered, even after the suicide note was recovered," said the source. In addition to the transfer, SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu has also ordered a departmental inquiry against the cop.

"We have transferred the local SHO on the basis of complaints received from local residents. There were also reports of his poor and non-professional dealings with the public," said Sidhu.

"Crime in the area had risen under the SHO, due to which immediate action was taken against the cop." The SHO has been replaced by the inspector of police Parminder Singh. No arrests have been made yet.